Athens
, 23 May 2011
Journalist: We’ll be talking to Foreign Ministry spokesman Gregory Delavekouras now. The medical supply shipment to Benghazi has been carried out, and we had Catherine Ashton’s recent visit. Is there now a permanent diplomatic mission in Benghazi?
Mr. Delavekouras: Good morning. The first phase of Greece’s aid mission to Benghazi was in fact completed yesterday. An Air Force C-130 transported a small team from the Foreign Ministry, and they will remain there, preparing the ground for the receipt of the humanitarian aid that is to be transported by ship in the coming days. The C-130 also carried a medical unit, with seven personnel – including surgeons, psychologists and other doctors. The Greek Foreign Ministry team will remain in Benghazi to keep communication channels open with the National Transitional Council there, so that we can support this whole effort that is being made to seek a political solution and the launching of a dialogue process.
Journalist: Is there a timeframe, Mr. Delavekouras? Will they stay there as long as it takes; until a solution is found?
Mr. Delavekouras: Yes, they will stay there as long as it takes. As you said, yesterday also saw a similar team from the EU start operating, and they will also remain in Benghazi. Greece is one of the first countries establishing a presence in the region, precisely because we believe that we have to keep all of the channels of communication open.
Journalist: So, you are saying that there is still chance of finding a way out of the impasse through diplomatic channels, because that hasn’t seemed to be the case for some months now.
Mr. Delavekouras: That is, in fact, the case. But this is something that Greece has been saying from the very outset: That we need to look for a political solution; that military means alone will not suffice to bring a solution, to end the crisis in Libya. That is exactly why we need to do everything we can so that a political process can begin.
Journalist: Thank you very much.
Mr. Delavekouras: I thank you. Good day.